Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: StephenR on December 15, 2014, 01:19:27 PM

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: StephenR on December 15, 2014, 01:19:27 PM

Wanted to share a couple of pictures of my 1978 Brazilian Rosewood five-string Series I bass. I have owned this instrument since 1985. It was my second Alembic bass and my first five-string bass.
I mentioned this bass to Mica a couple of years ago during a phone conversation and she told me they have no records in-house about this particular instrument. I also do not have the build sheet.
 
32 scale
Brazilian Rosewood top and back over Mahogany core
Maple neck with Purpleheart laminates
Ebony fingerboard
Mother of Pearl inlays
Walnut laminates on front and rear of peghead
 
Still have the original case. The bass has Schaller tuning keys, the original tuning keys appear to have been replaced at some point prior to my acquisition.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: musashi on December 15, 2014, 04:52:06 PM

Supercool.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: room037 on December 16, 2014, 02:35:55 AM

Wow ! Nice bass !
Very interested unusual tail piece.
Incredible top and back wood !
 
I also own small body MSB 5 strings.
My bass set up with Hi-C strings.
Now it is my main bass.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: edwardofhuncote on December 16, 2014, 05:39:38 AM

Wow, now that's one I'd love to try! What a beauty! And even better, that must be one of the earliest 5-strings too.
 
I'm with Eiji on the unusual tailpiece... it reminds me of the one on this employee-made Europa:
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/202968.html?1418031491 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=13344)

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: artswork99 on December 16, 2014, 06:19:28 AM

Great bass, beautiful!

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: StephenR on December 29, 2014, 06:15:50 PM

The picture gremlins seem to have it out for me. Second time I have posted pictures on the forums here and had them disappear. Going to repost and add external links just in case...
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/205128.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/full%20shot%20front.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/full%20shot%20front.jpg)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/205129.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/alembic%20front.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/alembic%20front.jpg)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/205130.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/alembic%20back.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/alembic%20back.jpg)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/205131.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/case.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/case.jpg)

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: charles_holmes on January 01, 2015, 11:37:09 AM

Awww Man!!!! That is such an amazing looking instrument there! I know that it sounds superb! Congratulations! If there is a 5 string that I'd like to have, it would be that one!

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on January 01, 2015, 05:42:30 PM

The rosewood has such depth and beauty.  Great looking bass.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: edwin on January 01, 2015, 09:37:36 PM

Looks like an old Bag End cab back there. I have one of a similar vintage.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: StephenR on January 02, 2015, 10:17:07 AM

Yes, it is a early-mid 80s Bag End D10M with JBL E-110 speakers. I used to use it with two single 15 JBL Cabaret series cabinets. It is pretty heavy considering the small size and actually makes for a better guitar cab than bass.
 
The bass is really nice and holds a lot of sentimental value to me. Wish I could say that it was getting a lot of use but after 25 years of playing 35 scale basses with wider necks I find it really challenging to play a 32 scale bass with a narrow neck. I love the sound of the series electronics, though, and have been reluctant to let it go unless I can replace it with another series bass.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: charles_holmes on January 02, 2015, 12:13:56 PM

Well If you ever consider selling it please contact me!!! (just sayin') Sometimes I'll bring out my 2 Bag End D10BX-D's to gig with, but since I had a couple of custom 2x10's made in which I can lift both at the same time (& they sound just as good as the Bag Ends) I usually keep em' in the basement and make some noise there.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: edwin on January 02, 2015, 02:12:17 PM

I haven't really figured out what to do with my Bag End cab. It's a double 12 and is really massive. It came with Gauss speakers and doesn't really have the deep sound you might think with such a large cabinet. It's unmovable by myself. But, it was given to me as payment for some mixing and production work I did 20 years ago.
 
I thought about seeing if I could adapt it to 15s, but it's just slightly too small to enlarge the speaker cutouts.  
 
So, did you play this bass with the Zen Tricksters?

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: StephenR on January 02, 2015, 05:29:04 PM

Some of the older Bag End cabinets are really heavy and unwieldy. The one I have was designed as a mid-range cab so it also has little bass response. I think all the early BE cabinets were designed to be modular, as far as I know none were intended to be full range cabinets. I have considered selling mine but probably won't get much more for it than the value of the speakers themselves so I have kept it.  
 
I did play this Alembic when I was in the Zen Tricksters. I joined the Jeff Mattson Band in September of 1987 and a short time later the bass spot in the Volunteers opened up. When the Volunteers came to an end Jeff, Tom, Jen and I formed the Tricksters. I left in late 1991 prior to moving to CA in 1992.
 
Charles... I will keep you in mind if I ever decide to sell the bass.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: edwin on January 02, 2015, 07:33:53 PM

Interesting. I remember hearing about you guys and this bass (I was a freak for Alembics, which I didn't get to see that often onstage) when my band, Shockra, came down to NYC to play gigs at the Wetlands, etc.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: room037 on January 02, 2015, 10:10:28 PM

Wow, I'm second in line, if Charles won't buy your bass.
 
The narrow neck 5 strings is unique and unusual.
I think the narrow 5 is not familiar for all, but I feel it better.
 
Eiji

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: jazzyvee on January 03, 2015, 12:20:53 AM

I will jump the queue if I have to...:-)

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: charles_holmes on January 04, 2015, 11:43:52 AM

Hey Stephen, Did you ever hear of Spiders-N-Snakes? My wife's buddy, Drummer Tim Yasui also Cleopatra Records plays around in your neck of the woods (I guess). Anyway thanks for keeping me mind if you decide to sell.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: StephenR on January 04, 2015, 12:29:06 PM

Wow... kind of amazed at, and appreciate, all the interest in this bass but at this point there is no queue to join. I have had it for almost 30 years and like a lot of instruments I own but don't play regularly have never wanted to sell it. But, if I ever find another series bass that I consider a keeper it will be time for this one to move on to a new owner.
 
I remember Shockra but never saw you guys live. Wetlands was certainly a special place, one of the most fun venues I have had the pleasure to work in.  
 
Never heard of Spiders N Snakes...

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: moongerm on June 05, 2015, 08:16:26 PM

Wow what a great 5 string! Beautiful!

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: StephenR on March 10, 2016, 01:20:50 PM

My wife and I recently had the pleasure of finally making the trip up to Santa Rosa for a visit and to fulfill MIca?s request from several years ago to bring my bass up so it could be photographed and formally documented. In the early days the company was not as meticulous about keeping records of the instruments and didn?t always take photos. Mica has developed a nifty system for taking photos so current builds are now all properly documented and added to the archives. As has been noted by many others before me, a trip to the mothership will not disappoint and you will receive a warm welcome from everyone you meet there. Lots of fun to get a behind the scenes look at how they work their magic and you will be surrounded by instruments both finished and in progress.  
 
When I made an appointment for my visit I asked Mica for a quote on having a master volume installed in my bass. She offered me the option of having it done during the visit so I would not have to drive back to pick it up when completed. Sounded like a great opportunity so it was an easy decision to take her up on the offer.  
 
After the addition of the master volume was completed Mica took some excellent photos so it seemed time to update my showcase thread. While the bass was there I also asked to have the battery circuit checked, I always use the DS5 but the 1/4? jack didn?t function properly. Turned out the previous owner had new battery leads installed and they were not wired correctly. They installed new battery leads and also offered to install inserts for the screws that hold on the brass plate for the electronics. Nice to see the bass get some long needed TLC.  
 
The other surprise was that Mica finally managed to find the build sheet on my bass so I now know its official ?birthday?? 6/30/78.
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/226606.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_frontviewNL.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_frontviewNL.jpg)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/226607.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_backviewNL.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_backviewNL.jpg)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/226608.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_bodyfrontNL.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_bodyfrontNL.jpg)

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: StephenR on March 10, 2016, 01:27:47 PM

A few more pictures...
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/226617.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_bodybackNL.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_bodybackNL.jpg)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/226618.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_pegheadNL.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_pegheadNL.jpg)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/226619.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_pegheadbackNL.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_pegheadbackNL.jpg)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/226620.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_tailpieceNL.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_tailpieceNL.jpg)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/226621.jpg)
 
 
http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_TRCNL.jpg (http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_TRCNL.jpg)

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: hieronymous on March 10, 2016, 01:39:02 PM

Wow! Wonderful pictures of an amazing bass! I was fortunate to get to see it in person at the recent mini-gathering and hear Edwin play it a little bit.

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: rv_bass on March 10, 2016, 01:43:46 PM

Beautiful bass Stephen!  I like the tailpiece and head stock, and the wood is wonderful!

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: sonicus on March 10, 2016, 02:02:28 PM

Beautiful indeed !

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: sonicus on March 10, 2016, 02:08:22 PM

Beautiful indeed !

Title: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string
Post by: jazzyvee on March 10, 2016, 02:37:49 PM

Gorgeous bass. I presume it was one of the first 5 string alembic basses.